This year marked the 30th anniversary of the Irish Charollais sheep society. While planned events were called off due to COVID-19, the annual premier sale did go ahead and ended up smashing the previous top price record.
Originally set in 2004 and standing at €5,500, Rockdale Vespasian sold for the new record price of €7,500 at the society sale in Tullow on Saturday.
This January 2020-born ram lamb was bred by David Argue, from Drung in Co Cavan. Sired by Rhaeadr Prince, he is out of imported ewe from the Loanhead flock.
Considered the best ram bred in the Rockdale flock in the last 10 years, he was secured by William McAllister and Iain Craig for their flocks in Northern Ireland.
Speaking following the sales, David said: “myself and my father [also David] had high hopes for this ram coming down to Tullow, as he is the best we have bred since we started 10 years ago.
“We purchased his dam across the water, having used a son of hers successfully for two years first.
“We went to flush her last year and on the day the ram showed up infertile, so we got a loan of two straws – this ram and two other rams we sold to pedigree flocks were the result.”
This topped an impeccable day for the Cavan man, who also sold his second lot, Rockdale Venga Boy, for €2,000.
Another January 2020-born lamb, this double five-star ram is a son of Loanhead Scotsman, whose dam is also the dam of the sale topper. The dam of Venga Boy is a Bawnard ewe out of the well-known Carriganeela Cracker. He was the pick of Maria Philpott, Co Cork.
The positivity in the sheep sector meant trade proved to be incredibly strong, seeing 21 rams and two ewes hit four figure prices. The majority of the near 200 sheep presented for sale at Tullow mart fell into the ram lamb bracket, which saw an average price of €925 for 73% sold. Hogget rams proved a particularly strong trade, seeing average price jump by over €200 on the year, to settle at €710 with a 95% clearance.
Male and supreme champion from the Fiddawn flock of Tom and Jim Murphy. \ Mullagh Photography
This year’s pre-sale show was held behind closed doors early in the morning, to allow the public adequate time to inspect the sheep before the sale. Judge Andrew Duncan tapped forward his first prizewinning shearling ram as overall male and eventual supreme champion.
This January 2019-born ram came from the A9 Fiddawn flock of Tom and Jim Murphy from Inistioge, Co Kilkenny.
With five stars on the terminal index, he is a son of the previously mentioned Carriganeela Cracker, who has bred a number of champions at the premier to-date. Securing the champion was Leitrim man Graham Taylor at €1,150.
Reserve male and reserve supreme champion from the Miley brothers Knockcroghery flock. Exhibited by Declan Miley. \ Mullagh photography
Standing reserve male and reserve supreme to the Murphys were the Miley brothers of the Knockcroghery flock in Co Roscommon. The first prizewinning ram lamb is one of the first sons of the jointly-owned stock ram Oakchurch Utopia, purchased at Worcester last year.
Five stars on both terminal and replacement, he was the pick of Robert Gregory for his Edstaston flock in Shrewsbury, at a price of €4,100.
Next in line was Sarah and Michael O’Neill of the A17 Bolinaspect flock in Wexford, who sold their January-born ram lamb for €5,200. This stylish ram carried five stars on both indexes and is a son of Kilbarry Hugh.
Hitting the market at €3,650 was Ger and Paula O’Leary’s Ralahine flock in Co Clare. Their top lot was a son of Ballyhibben Trickster, with the dam a Rhaeadr Roulette daughter. This one heads to Andrew Reilly’s Trunker flock in Co Cavan.
Simon Brown of the Cloghala flock in Co Kilkenny secured a bid of €2,160 for his top ram. One of the first sons of Moylough Mojo to be offered for sale, he was the pick of William Gleeson’s Wexfo flock.
Ram lamb top placings; Declan Miley first, Edward Buckley second and Richard Allen third. Pictured with judge Andrew Duncan and society chairman James Walsh. \ Mullagh Photgraphy
Joe Nolan’s Kilconnor flock and Michael Byrne’s Foynes flock teamed up to acquire a ram from the Saddle Hill flock at €2,040. Bred by James Murphy, this is yet another son of Carriganeela Cracker.
The second prize-winner from the ram lamb class came from Edward Buckley’s Kilbarry flock in Co Cork. Sired by an imported French ram, he is out of a dam by the homebred Kilbarry Obaama, who sired the premier sale champion in 2016. Cork-based Eamon Shanahan secured Buckley’s ram at a price of €1,950.
Female champion from Edmond and Paul O'Gorman and reserve from Michael and Alymer Power, pictured with judge Andrew Duncan, mart manager Barry ___ and society chair James Walsh. \ Mullagh Photgraphy
In the relatively small female section, the championship was taken by Edward and Paul O’Gorman of the Lisfuncheon flock.
Placing first in the shearling class, she carried five stars on both the terminal and replacement indexes and sold for €980 to the Ballinabarney flock of James Byrne. Homebred on both sides, the January 2019-born ewe is sired by Lisfuncheon Brian.
Taking first prize in the ewe lamb class – and in turn the reserve female championship – was Michael and Aylmer Power of the Ballyhibben flock in Co Limerick. A daughter of the £9,000 Sant Andras Sergent Major, she was knocked down to Charollais society chair James Walsh at the top female price of €1,160.
The Ballyhibben flock also sold their second ewe for €940. This five star Glyncoch Up And Under daughter is out of a Sergent Major-bred dam.
The second top female price was a call of €1,080 for the second-prize ewe lamb from the Cloghala flock of Simon Brown, Co Kilkenny. This Greenvale Top tup ranked in the top 1% for days to slaughter.
Overall, ewe lambs averaged €660, up €75 on the year, with a 95% clearance. All shearling ewes on offer found homes, with the average also rising by €70 on the year to settle at €785.
This year marked the 30th anniversary of the Irish Charollais sheep society. While planned events were called off due to COVID-19, the annual premier sale did go ahead and ended up smashing the previous top price record.
Originally set in 2004 and standing at €5,500, Rockdale Vespasian sold for the new record price of €7,500 at the society sale in Tullow on Saturday.
This January 2020-born ram lamb was bred by David Argue, from Drung in Co Cavan. Sired by Rhaeadr Prince, he is out of imported ewe from the Loanhead flock.
Considered the best ram bred in the Rockdale flock in the last 10 years, he was secured by William McAllister and Iain Craig for their flocks in Northern Ireland.
Speaking following the sales, David said: “myself and my father [also David] had high hopes for this ram coming down to Tullow, as he is the best we have bred since we started 10 years ago.
“We purchased his dam across the water, having used a son of hers successfully for two years first.
“We went to flush her last year and on the day the ram showed up infertile, so we got a loan of two straws – this ram and two other rams we sold to pedigree flocks were the result.”
This topped an impeccable day for the Cavan man, who also sold his second lot, Rockdale Venga Boy, for €2,000.
Another January 2020-born lamb, this double five-star ram is a son of Loanhead Scotsman, whose dam is also the dam of the sale topper. The dam of Venga Boy is a Bawnard ewe out of the well-known Carriganeela Cracker. He was the pick of Maria Philpott, Co Cork.
The positivity in the sheep sector meant trade proved to be incredibly strong, seeing 21 rams and two ewes hit four figure prices. The majority of the near 200 sheep presented for sale at Tullow mart fell into the ram lamb bracket, which saw an average price of €925 for 73% sold. Hogget rams proved a particularly strong trade, seeing average price jump by over €200 on the year, to settle at €710 with a 95% clearance.
Male and supreme champion from the Fiddawn flock of Tom and Jim Murphy. \ Mullagh Photography
This year’s pre-sale show was held behind closed doors early in the morning, to allow the public adequate time to inspect the sheep before the sale. Judge Andrew Duncan tapped forward his first prizewinning shearling ram as overall male and eventual supreme champion.
This January 2019-born ram came from the A9 Fiddawn flock of Tom and Jim Murphy from Inistioge, Co Kilkenny.
With five stars on the terminal index, he is a son of the previously mentioned Carriganeela Cracker, who has bred a number of champions at the premier to-date. Securing the champion was Leitrim man Graham Taylor at €1,150.
Reserve male and reserve supreme champion from the Miley brothers Knockcroghery flock. Exhibited by Declan Miley. \ Mullagh photography
Standing reserve male and reserve supreme to the Murphys were the Miley brothers of the Knockcroghery flock in Co Roscommon. The first prizewinning ram lamb is one of the first sons of the jointly-owned stock ram Oakchurch Utopia, purchased at Worcester last year.
Five stars on both terminal and replacement, he was the pick of Robert Gregory for his Edstaston flock in Shrewsbury, at a price of €4,100.
Next in line was Sarah and Michael O’Neill of the A17 Bolinaspect flock in Wexford, who sold their January-born ram lamb for €5,200. This stylish ram carried five stars on both indexes and is a son of Kilbarry Hugh.
Hitting the market at €3,650 was Ger and Paula O’Leary’s Ralahine flock in Co Clare. Their top lot was a son of Ballyhibben Trickster, with the dam a Rhaeadr Roulette daughter. This one heads to Andrew Reilly’s Trunker flock in Co Cavan.
Simon Brown of the Cloghala flock in Co Kilkenny secured a bid of €2,160 for his top ram. One of the first sons of Moylough Mojo to be offered for sale, he was the pick of William Gleeson’s Wexfo flock.
Ram lamb top placings; Declan Miley first, Edward Buckley second and Richard Allen third. Pictured with judge Andrew Duncan and society chairman James Walsh. \ Mullagh Photgraphy
Joe Nolan’s Kilconnor flock and Michael Byrne’s Foynes flock teamed up to acquire a ram from the Saddle Hill flock at €2,040. Bred by James Murphy, this is yet another son of Carriganeela Cracker.
The second prize-winner from the ram lamb class came from Edward Buckley’s Kilbarry flock in Co Cork. Sired by an imported French ram, he is out of a dam by the homebred Kilbarry Obaama, who sired the premier sale champion in 2016. Cork-based Eamon Shanahan secured Buckley’s ram at a price of €1,950.
Female champion from Edmond and Paul O'Gorman and reserve from Michael and Alymer Power, pictured with judge Andrew Duncan, mart manager Barry ___ and society chair James Walsh. \ Mullagh Photgraphy
In the relatively small female section, the championship was taken by Edward and Paul O’Gorman of the Lisfuncheon flock.
Placing first in the shearling class, she carried five stars on both the terminal and replacement indexes and sold for €980 to the Ballinabarney flock of James Byrne. Homebred on both sides, the January 2019-born ewe is sired by Lisfuncheon Brian.
Taking first prize in the ewe lamb class – and in turn the reserve female championship – was Michael and Aylmer Power of the Ballyhibben flock in Co Limerick. A daughter of the £9,000 Sant Andras Sergent Major, she was knocked down to Charollais society chair James Walsh at the top female price of €1,160.
The Ballyhibben flock also sold their second ewe for €940. This five star Glyncoch Up And Under daughter is out of a Sergent Major-bred dam.
The second top female price was a call of €1,080 for the second-prize ewe lamb from the Cloghala flock of Simon Brown, Co Kilkenny. This Greenvale Top tup ranked in the top 1% for days to slaughter.
Overall, ewe lambs averaged €660, up €75 on the year, with a 95% clearance. All shearling ewes on offer found homes, with the average also rising by €70 on the year to settle at €785.
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